The Iron Maiden was constructed in 1533 in the Funfeckiger Castle Tower in Nuremberg, Germany. Despite early written reports of this torture device, an actual example wasn't discovered until the 1890's (during the time of the spoon era). A couple of examples are now known in museum collections.
The device is shaped like a maiden and it has doors which open. The inside of the doors contain sharp pointed devices which would penetrate a body which is laying in the chamber. The whole device sits over a trap door and flesh eating fishes swim in water below the trap door.
Detail of finial with the closed doors. The pedestal is quite intricate and detailed
The entire spoon with the doors to the chamber in an open position. Although this spoon is not marked, I am pretty sure it is 800 silver
Detail embossed picture of the Funfecker Castle tower in a gold washed bowl. The back is engraved Aug. 26, '95 (1895)
Another version of the iron mainden spoon with a different pedestal and different bowl. marked 800
A third hand made version of this spoon. The bowl has a chased picture of the castle. The marks are unreadable, but I am pretty sure it is 800 silver
The back of a George Washington spoon has a neat skyline view of "Old Amsterdam". I was examining this scene with my magnifying glass and discovered that this tall pole near the center of this picture is a "hanging tree". This is unbelievable. Why did the company feel that this was an important element to include on a spoon showing a view of this early city?
for more information on this spoon see the George Washington exhibit (from the main index)